Team Mama Idea: 6 Personalized Coaches Gift Ideas!

"A good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life"- John Wooden.


Being married to a youth sports coach, I know first-hand just how much work and effort (all volunteer!) goes into the job. They spend countless hours (both on the field and off) dedicating their time and knowledge to our young children. For this reason, I am always sure to reward my boys' coaches with a little something at the end of the season as a token of our appreciation.


Here are some of my favorite gift ideas (with links to where you can get them yourself!):

• Personalized Beer Glasses

• Personalized Sports Balls

(Basketballs were ordered from this (new to me) shop)

• Personalized Whistle

• Framed Photo Ball, Signed By Team



• Gift Card With Sports Themed Holders



• Personalized Team Photo Card

I hope you found these gift ideas helpful. Let me know your favorite coaches gift ideas in the comment section below!

Sports Mama Update: Here's what we gave No. 1's Freshman basketball coach. The poster collage was made by a student. He loved it!!

*** Have an amazing Team Mama that you'd like to thank as well? Click HERE for ideas!

Weekend Snapshots: Getting My Artsy Fartsy On!

Over the last week, I've managed to get a few arts and crafts done despite having to work full time, chauffer the boys back and forth to both football and soccer practices, nurse No. 2's ankle back to health, deal with a nasty stomach bug of my own (ugh!), not to mention every other thing us mamas do on a daily basis.


I made two shirts. Well, I didn't literally make them. I purchased rhinestone transfers from Etsy and ironed them on.


I made a football shirt.

And a soccer shirt!

Bling bling, baby! Quick shipping, great quality, and super easy to do. I absolutely LOVE how they came out!


I also gave some of my old cowbells a little makeover.

My original plan was to get rid of them since we changed clubs this season and have new colors. Then I remembered that I had a can of orange spray paint sitting around. Seriously, is there anything a little spray paint (and glitter tape!) can't fix?!? I can't wait to give them to some of my new football mama friends!


Have a great week, mamas!

Sports Mama Review: Football Ties Vinyl Nail Decals

I recently purchased football nail decals from Etsy.com. I spotted them on Pinterest last year, and had been eyeing them ever since! Shop owner CutecraftycreationUT says "Do you want a salon looking manicure in the comfort of your home? Look no further! These nail decals make a cute manicure in no time! Just paint your nails the desired color, wait for them to dry, apply nail decal and add a top coat!".

For $4 you receive a sheet of 78 ties. I ordered them on a Monday, and received them two days later. Talk about fast shipping!

They came with easy to follow application instructions.

I began by painting my nails first (base coat + 2 coats of color). I made sure that they were completely dry before proceeding with the decals. I then placed one decal on each nail. A few times the positioning was off, so I had to quickly remove and reposition them. I found that using a pair of nail scissors was the easiest way to do this. Out of the four that I repositioned, only one was damaged. Once all of the decals had been placed, I sealed them with a layer of top coat.


Here is the finished product:

Seriously, how cute are they??? I received so many compliments while wearing them!


They lasted a solid three days before beginning to peel. I'm pretty sure they would have lasted longer had I applied more than one layer of top coat. It's all good with me though. I didn't plan on wearing them an entire week anyway!


I've already recommended this product to some my favorite mamas. They are definitely a product all football mamas should have in their spirit stash! I mean, have you tried drawing football laces on your nails freehand before? I have. And let me tell you, it wasn't easy!


Click HERE to order your own! 


Happy shopping!

Sports Mama Tip: My Go-To Sites & Apps

I rely on several websites and iPhone apps to help me make it through the season, especially when I'm Team Mama. Here are a list of the ones that I just cannot live without:

• TEAMSNAP- This has been my go-to website for managing teams for the past several years. There are paid upgrades, as well as a standard free version. Basically, it's your own personal webpage for your team. With this one site only, I am able to add our roster (including contact info for players, coaches, and parents), our practice and game schedules, track a player's availability, upload videos and photos, create a snack sign-up list, send messages (emails, texts, and IMs), track our win/loss record, and much more. There also have an app that you can download onto your smart phone.
• SIGNUPGENIUS- It's name speaks for itself. It's a free website that allows you to "say goodbye to reply-all emails and paper sign-up sheets". I use it to create all different types of sign-ups including for snacks, team tailgates, and end of season celebrations. It's quick, easy, and effective.
• FACEBOOK- You know what it is, I know what it is. We all know what it is! I like to use the "page" feature to set up a team page. It allows me to share info including photos and videos to help extended family and friends stay up to day with our team. Just remember not to post any information you wouldn't want to potentially be shared with strangers.
• MAPQUEST- Because I simply have no sense of direction. Embarrassing, but true. I use this app to get to just about every game...except for home games, of course. Ha!
• PINTEREST- Pinterest is my favorite site/app ever! Not only for sports related ideas, but for any other possible idea you could think of. Tired of the same old boring post-game snacks? Go to Pinterest! No clue what to give your child's coach at the end of the season? Go to Pinterest! Need some team spirit ideas? Go to Pinterest! I promise you will not be disappointed!
• ETSY- I like to think that I'm a DIYer, but let's face it. Sometimes a sports mama needs a little help! Etsy describes itself as a "world of vintage and handmade goods".  One of my favorite things to use it for is to purchase unique items including coaches gifts and spirit wear.

Have any go-to sites that you simply can't live without? Please feel free to share them below!

*** Update 7/6/18- It's been a little over a year since I originally wrote this blog post, and I have a couple of new go-to sites/apps that I just have to share with your all!

• Tourney Machine- The one stop shop site/app for keeping up with all things AAU Basketball. It allows me to view schedules, standings, brackets, AND results. The results are entered almost instantly, which is perfect for those games that I can't make it to because it's impossible for me to be in two places at once. And best of all, it's free!
• Waze- I know, I know. I'm late to the party. Coach Hubby has raved about Waze for sometime now, but I'm just now getting on board. I still use my MapQuest, but I do really enjoy the "non-directions" portion that they offer (i.e. real-time alerts regarding accidents, road hazards, and of course, police!). So helpful! And again, it's free!

In the words of one of my Sports Mama friends, Beth, "Sports Mamas gotta stick together and share the resources." Are you using and loving any apps that I missed? Comment down below or share them in the Confessions of a Sports Mama Facebook Group!

Team Mama Idea: Football End of Season Party- II

Football season has come and gone. At least for No. 2. Unfortunately, his team did not make the playoffs. They were bumped up into the American division this year (the toughest division of them all). They made a good run, but still fell a little short.


Here's what we did to celebrate a well fought season.


I booked our party at a local bowling alley. Two hours (one hour of bowling, one hour in a private party room) and your choice of pizza, burgers, or hot dogs with drinks for $16 a kid. Of course, I went with pizza. Almost every kid I know loves pizza. The cost was almost completely covered by our touchdown jar. If you don't know what a touchdown jar is, click HERE to find out. Our grand total came to $224.24, so all I had to collect was $3 per player! How awesome is that?

It also happened to be our quarterback's birthday, so his mama volunteered to bring the cake... and ice cream!

I just LOVE photo cakes.


Coach Hubby and I awarded the boys with personalized medals. I ordered them from Trophy Depot. They looked way better in person than they did online. I was even able to customize the neck ribbon to match our team colors! We also printed out a picture of each player which added even more of a personalized touch.

For coaches gifts, I began by sending out an email to our team requesting donations. I never specify a numeric amount, in fact I always indicate that no amount is too small (or too big!). I find that more people are willing to give, when the amount is left up to them.


I ordered each coach a 23oz. personalized beer glass. I found them on Etsy. Click HERE if you'd like to purchase one yourself. They have their name, the team name, and year on them in our team colors. I absolutely love how they turned out!

I also gave each coach a gift card which was purchased with the leftover donation money. Who needs a gift card holder when you can put them directly into the beer glass? Cheers!

The team had a blast.

Until next season. Go Admirals!


***Click HERE to read my most recent ideas and HERE to read some of my past ideas.